The
fort is located at the tip of the peninsula of Vošćica (also called Bejavac),
on the spot where the island of Krk is separated from the Vinodol mainland by a
channel that is only a few hundred metres wide. In accordance with the
capabilities of the artillery of the time, the Venetians built the fort at the
best spot from which they could completely control the sea traffic through the
Tihi Channel. The fort consisted of a lower part with a gun battery,
accommodation for the military garrison, a chapel, and a tall observation
tower. In addition to Maltempo, on maps and in more recent documents the fort
was also called the Fort of St. Mark, the patron saint of the Republic of Venice,
and its chapel was dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. As part of the wider
Venetian system of coastal fortresses, this fort played an important role for
several decades after its construction at the end of the 16th century. It was
also the site where Austrian and Venetian representatives negotiated the peace
that resulted in the expulsion of the daring Uskoks of Senj, who were feared
not only by Venetian ships, but often also by the peaceful inhabitants of the
island of Krk.
As
part of a grand Austrian project to build a maritime signalisation system, a
lighthouse was constructed inside the fort in 1875.